Tusa Tina - Review 2023

Scuba Gear You’ll Love to Wear

We tested the TUSA Tina while diving in the Galapagos Islands and have concluded that this may be the most comfortable BCD on the market for women. But comfort wasn’t the only notable feature of the TUSA Tina, let’s dive a little deeper into some of our favorite features of the TUSA Tina BCD.

Ultimate Comfort

The TUSA Tina BCD is designed to provide women divers ultimate comfort so they can spend more time being confident in the water and less time fussing with their gear.

There is nothing worse than finally getting to go on that dream dive only to get geared up and realize that your BCD digs into you in all the wrong places. Discomfort is not an issue when it comes to the Tina. Outcompeting its competitors, the ScubaPro LadyHawk, Zeagle Zena, and Cressi Travelight, in padding, the TUSA Tina has plush back and shoulder padding that actually feels like … well, padding. This enhanced shoulder and back padding is thick enough to take the pressure off your back, hips, and shoulders but is composed of quick-dry material, so you don’t have to worry about long drying times post-dive.

In addition to padding, the TUSA Tina was designed with a woman’s body in mind. The jacket-style BCD features a high-cut waist design that accommodates a woman’s curves while taking the pressure off the hips. This is key when using lead weights.

To further accommodate differences in body shape and size, the Tina has a Waist Support System that integrates an adjustable shoulder harness system and an adjustable cumberbund style waist band to ensure a good fit, while also dispersing the weight load.

Similar to the ScubaPro LadyHawk BCD, the TUSA Tina has a sternum strap that secures around the chest. However, unlike the LadyHawk, the Tina’s sternum strap is elastic and adjustable, meaning that it can be moved to various heights on the chest. The Tina’s sternum strap also comes equipped with a safety whistle because comfort isn’t only about how the gear fits – comfort also comes from knowing that you have the resources necessary to help in case of an emergency.

Pockets & D-rings

After a lifelong battle of too-small pockets, the TUSA Tina BCD has finally answered the cries of all women – bigger pockets!

The TUSA Tina has two large double-zipper pockets on the jacket. These pockets are large enough to hold your dive gloves, a camera, a dive knife via the knife grommet, or even your snorkel during the dive. With the double-zipper design, the Tina’s pockets are easy to access during the dive – no more aimlessly feeling around. In addition to the two large pockets, the Tina also has a small waist pocket on the cumberbund, a feature lacking in the Zeagle Zena’s corset-style design.

The Tina’s side pockets also feature an Octopus pocket integrated on the right pocket and a gauge pocket  integrated on the left pocket. However, the functionality of the Octo and gauge pockets depend on the length of the hose. Octo’s with a shorter hose have a higher likelihood of popping out of this pocket. Despite this, the TUSA Tina’s pockets are unmatched by comparable women’s BCDs, like the ScubaPro LadyHawk and Zeagle Zena, which lack both the size and functionality of the Tina’s pockets.

As if the large pockets were not enough, the TUSA designed the Tina to have repositionable D-rings that offer the diver the ability to customize accessory attachment points. This feature increases the accessibility of the BCD by allowing the diver to attach accessories where they will be easily reachable.

Buoyancy Control like a Boss

The TUSA Tina BCD has been rated excellent for both stability and ascent control. The Tina is a jacket style BCD with a standard inflator with flex hose. While a little more bulky than a back inflate style BCD, like the ScubaPro LadyHawk, the TUSA Tina feels both stable and streamlined in the water.

The responsive inflator hose is easy to use and is compatible with the TUSA Duo Air II, integrated second-stage regulator. The Tina features easy buoyancy trimming with two dump valves and an overpressure relief valve so that air can more easily be released from the BCD while diving.

The TUSA Tina features an Advanced Weight Loading System III (A.W.L.S. III) integrated weight system that allows the diver to quickly and easily secure the weight pockets, as well as two back pockets for weight trimming. The weight pockets load into the front of the BCD and secure with a  ‘click’ into the single lock system. To remove the weight pockets, it’s as simple as pulling on the weight pocket handles, no need to worry about trying to unbuckle the weight pockets from the BCD, like with the ScubaPro LadyHawk. The A.W.L.S. III takes the stress out of having to worry about loading and unloading weight from the BCD while getting ready for, or after, an epic dive.

Tank Support

The TUSA Tina has three features to ensure proper tank fit: (1) the Independent Harness System, (2) the Ultimate Stabilizing Harness, and (3) the RiteTite Buckle. Both the Independent Harness System and Ultimate Stabilizing Harness work to isolate the BCD’s harness from the air cell and securely hold the tank in place. This prevents tank slippage, eliminates gaps between the tank and back, and eliminates tank roll – ultimately delivering a better fitting BCD.

The tank secures to the BCD using the RiteTite Buckle, a two position cam strap. Though adequate in securing the BCD to the tank, this system is rather stiff when the BCD is new and it can be a little difficult to tighten the BCD to the tank until the strap is broken in.

Our diver did experience this buckle coming undone during the dive. However, after being easily popped back into place by the dive buddy, the dive continued on without any more incidents. Other cam systems, like the Scubapro’s super cinch cam buckles, are a little easier to secure around a tank. Regardless, the tank support system on the TUSA Tina performed well to relieve tank pressure for the diver.

Color

The TUSA Tina BCD only comes in two colors: black and pink; unlike the Zeagle Zena, which comes in a variety of colors and customizable front panels. The Tina’s black option features white accents on the side pockets, while the pink option offers hot pink accents on the pockets. Both color options feature a flower design on the side pockets.

Price/quality ratio: 

They say a price can’t be placed on comfort. Luckily, with the TUSA Tina BCD you don’t have to break the bank to get both high quality and comfort in a BCD. The Tina offers similar quality and durability as comparable women’s BCDs (e.g., Zeagle Zena, ScubaPro LadyHawk) at a lower price point.

Do we recommend it:

Yes, we definitely recommend the TUSA Tina for women looking for a BCD that prioritizes comfort while not sacrificing functionality.

The design of the BCD distributes weight across the hips to take pressure off the back, shoulders, and hips. This BCD also has multiple attachment points for accessories as well as large pockets, making it a great design for both recreational and professional divers. One of our favorite features of this BCD is the inclusion of a safety whistle on the sternum strap.